Some voices in the NY Orthodox Jewish Community say that Republicans will have hell to pay for the same gender marriage bill that become law under the Republican Senate Majority. I strongly disagree. Here is why:
1) Many, many Jewish voters don’t care about this issue in the first place. Had they cared, more of them would have called and emailed their respective State Senators to voice their opposition, and less in the Orthodox Jewish Community would have voted in November for Lib Democrats of whom it should have been expected that they will vote for this marriage bill. Apparently, Social Programs and other Government handouts are more important to Orthodox Jewish voters (and some leaders) than this marriage issue.
2) Seven times more Dems than Republicans voted for this bill, and 29 more Republicans than Democrats opposed this bill. Better said: 29 Republicans voted against this bill vs 29 Dems who backed it. So if anyone should get hell, it is the Democrats.
3 ) Arguing that “this is what we expect from Dems but not from Repubs” is false for this reason: Not every Democrat is a Liberal and not every Republican is a Conservative, certainly not NY Republicans. It is nothing but normal for a few NY Republicans out of 32 to vote yes on such a bill. The issue instead is, why the few State Senate Democrats who in 2009 voted against this bill, came around to support it this time around (besides one, a Reverend).
4) Claiming that the Senate Majority should have blocked this bill from coming to a vote is crazy. We live in America and votes should be permitted to take place. Instead of blaming the Republicans why they permitted this vote, Orthodox Jews (who mind that this bill passed) should look in the mirror and ask: A – why did they back, support, and bring into office Democrats who were ready to support such a bill. B – why didn’t the Orthodox Jewish Community do more to stop these bills on the Democrat side such as via calls, emails, fundraisers, etc. But again, Social Programs are more important to you, and therefore you were not ready to go all the way against Dem State Senators over this issue. Right? Good. No problem with me, but shut up!
If you want to claim now that “these Democrats were anyway going to win their seats in November,” then don’t go around saying “Republicans will have hell to pay,” because apparently you don’t have the power to force out or bring in State Senators. If you DO have this power, why didn’t you use it against Democrats? Besides, how will you make ‘Republicans pay:’ By voting in November 2012 for Democrats who voted for this bill? Hmmm. Smart. Very smart!
In the mean time, in the spirit of equality, I am sure that locker rooms at gyms and at swimming pools will be open equally for members of both genders. Sending Men and Women to separate sides is discrimination, certainly to those who are in the LGBT community. Permitting anything less than this equality, is hypocrisy from those who back Same Gender laws.
